Unicameral advances Hallstrom bill to regulate kratom, adds nitrous-oxide sales ban and new scheduling for tianeptine

The Nebraska Legislature on Tuesday advanced LB230, a bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Hallstrom that would create a state regulatory program for kratom products, after the body adopted a funding amendment and two substantive amendments that change the bill’s scope.

The measure, as amended, directs the Department of Revenue to establish and administer a kratom registration program and sets age and sale restrictions; it also includes a pay‑for amendment and was amended on select file to ban flavored retail nitrous‑oxide canisters and to add tianeptine to Schedule II of the Nebraska Controlled Substances Act.

Supporters said a regulatory approach preserves consumer protection without criminalizing the product. Senator Hallstrom, the bill’s introducer, told colleagues that AM597 “is fairly simple and straightforward” and explained the…